Variable power fluid cell optics for countering presbyopia and/or astigmatism

ABSTRACT

Eyewear referred to herein as Lnzwear includes fluid-filled optical cell(s) providing variable focal length, variable cylindrical lens power, and/or variable astigmatic angle, with all three variables being independently controllable by the user in real time. Lnzwear is analog in nature, has tall and wide fields of view, and omits from its lenses any lines or zones producing aberrations. Visual, verbal, and/or tactile control inputs can be provided by the user. Lnzwear does not require prescription optics and is preferably configured so that it can be mass produced. Multiple embodiments are disclosed to satisfy the needs of presbyopes with (or without) astigmatism around the world.

BACKGROUND

Two U.S. patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,715,876 and 5,684,637) issued toinventor Johnnie E. Floyd precede this invention and attest to theeffort, research, designs, and engineering pertaining to non-invasivecorrection of refractive errors (specifically for presbyopia) by thisinventor.

A human vision limitation termed presbyopia is characterized by theinability to focus on objects nearby due to refractive errors. Theability to focus on objects far away may be diminished as well. Theratio of the far distance ability of the unaided eye divided by the neardistance ability, is defined herein as the presbyopic ratio (PR). For anindividual with presbyopia, PR generally decreases over time.

Correction of refractive errors can be achieved through invasive,semi-invasive, or non-invasive methods. Invasive methods include surgeryto the cornea, replacement of the cornea, and/or replacement of thehuman internal lens with a man-made semi-rigid plastic lens.Semi-invasive methods include use of contact lenses, which are film-likeflexible membranes that float on the fluids of the cornea. Contactlenses, which are usually employed for people from age 18 to 40, canprovide up to three fixed focal lengths and a fixed astigmaticcorrection. Non-invasive methods of correcting refractive errors includetraditional fixed focal length eyewear comprising frames holding a pairof fixed focal length lenses. Other non-invasive methods of correctingrefractive errors include use of variable focal length eyewear employinga multitude of different technologies.

The lenses of traditional fixed focal length eyewear are typically madefrom relatively thick and rigid materials, namely, plastics exhibitinghigh impact resistance. Such lenses are generally capable of includingup to three vertically stacked segments, where each segment providescorrected vision at a different focal length. Because potentiallymultiple segments must share the vertical height of the eyewear, eachsegment may have only a short height, thus requiring the user to employboth gross rapid and minute fine head rotation to place the appropriatesegment between the user's eye and the object of interest and tomaintain the position.

In standard industry practice, there is a repertoire of 1360prescriptions formed from 17 cylindrical powers and 80 spherical powers(i.e., 17×80=1360) based on about 12 base curves. The ophthalmicpractitioner chooses one cylindrical correction and one, two, or threespherical corrections, by testing, by interviewing the user, and/or bydetermining the needs of the patient in their daily life. In presentpractice, the anterior surfaces of the lenses contain the sphericalcorrection(s), and the posterior surfaces contains the astigmatic(cylindrical) correction, with the axis of the cylindrical correctionbeing oriented 90 degrees from the axis of the astigmatic error of theeye. Once manufactured these surfaces cannot be altered. Aftermanufacture of the lenses, the surrounding lens border, called thecontour, is edge ground and beveled to fit into a selected frame.

Refractive correction at three different fixed distances is universallyclaimed and advertised by the optical industry to be as good as can beprovided. When the object of interest is located at the focal length ofan optic and the person physically rotates their head to place the opticbetween the eye and the object, then the object will appear to the userto be in focus. But when that alignment is not possible and the distanceto the object is not at the focal distance of one of the segments andaccommodation is small (low P/R), the image will not be in focus, andthe user and others can be put at risk. It should be appreciated thatthis lack of ability of a presbyope to focus has both static and dynamicaspects. The static component is the inability of the user to form sharpimages at all distances. The dynamic component is the inability of theuser to form sharp images continuously while the distance from anobserved object to optics is changing (such as when driving anautomobile). Traditional rigid lenses for advanced presbyopes do notadequately address either the static or dynamic aspects of presbyopia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments, the variable focal length optical assembliesdescribed herein (generally referred to herein as Lnzwear when realizedas eyewear) can provide focus at any distance (one distance at a time)using a variable focal length spherical lens fluid cell and/orcorrection of astigmatism using a cylindrical lens fluid cell. In someembodiments, a fixed focal length bias lens (which is preferably not aprescription lens) can be employed to bias the focal length in order tooffset the large differences in range location from one individual toanother. In preferred embodiments, none of the optics has lines orunproductive zones, and all are single segment. In at least onepreferred embodiment, the distance to the object of interest and focusof the spherical cell is determined automatically by a detecting system.Alternatively or additionally, focus may be directed by voice or manualmanipulation of a control. Correction of astigmatism can be provided bythe variable focal length cylindrical lens fluid cell's ability torotate about the X axis. Lnzwear can provide a complete solution to boththe static and dynamic components of the problem of presbyopia. Lnzwearis preferably configurable (and reconfigurable) fit to any normal faceand offset all refractive errors.

In at least some embodiments, Lnzwear can be manufactured by massproduction methods. Lnzwear can provide all prescriptions, and becauseof its analog nature, can provide prescriptions in between thoseprovided by traditional eyewear both in spherical and cylindrical power.Further, spherical and cylindrical correction can be controlledindependently. Lnzwear can provide mono-vision either eye dominant,diurnal changes, facilitates physical therapy of eye muscles, andnotification that the user should consult with a professional. Lnzwearcan be produced in both manual powered or motor-powered embodiments.Lnzwear can enunciate or otherwise present the distance to an observedobject.

In one embodiment, an optical cell includes a base optic including awall defining a periphery of the fluid optical cell, a flexible platehaving an peripheral edge disposed within and abutting the wall, acircumferential seal that seals the peripheral edge of the plate againstthe wall, and a ring including a shoulder that retains thecircumferential seal. The base optic includes a fluid passageway formedtherein communicating with a volume between the transparent plate andthe base optic. An optical focal length of the optical cell can bechanged by introducing fluid into the volume under sufficient hydraulicpressure to deform the plate to shape the fluid into a spherical lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a Lnzwearassembly as seen from above the left front side.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a Lnzwearassembly as seen from the upper rear right side.

FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of aLnzwear assembly.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a Lnzwearassembly.

FIG. 5 is a detailed isometric view of a nose tube, nose slide, and noserest of an exemplary embodiment of a Lnzwear assembly.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a Lnzwearassembly showing one exemplary contour.

FIG. 7A is an elevation view of a common base optic from which multiplecontours can be formed.

FIG. 7B is an isometric section providing a detailed view of features ofthe base optic.

FIG. 7C illustrates the ring of an exemplary Lnzwear SRxD embodiment.

FIG. 8A is an isometric section of the optics set of one side of anexemplary Lnzwear SRxD embodiment.

FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C an elevation section view illustrating the positive and negativedeflections of a spherical cell plate.

FIG. 9A is an isometric view of the optics set for one eye in anexemplary Lnzwear SCD embodiment as seen from the upper right rear.

FIG. 9B is an isometric section view of the optics set for one eye in anexemplary Lnzwear SCD embodiment as seen from the upper right rear.

FIG. 10A is a section view of an exemplary cylindrical cell having anull bias lens.

FIG. 10B is a section view of an exemplary cylindrical cell having apositive bias lens.

FIG. 10C is a section view of an exemplary cylindrical cell having anegative bias lens.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the transfer optics, siliconphotodiode array, lamps, microprocessor, and PCB (printed circuit board)of an exemplary Lnzwear SCD embodiment.

FIGS. 12-13 are side and front elevation views of a deflectedcylindrical plate of a cylindrical fluid cell in an exemplary Lnzwearembodiment.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the location of the transfer optic andsilicon photodiode array sensor pattern of an exemplary Lnzwear SCDembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the centerlines of the horizontal,lowest useful, and highest angle light paths of the transfer optics,showing the frame PCB, silicon photodiode array, and transfer optic ofan exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 16A is the front elevation view of a human eye illustrating theglobe, iris, iris equator, and pupil.

FIG. 16B is an elevation view of the human eye showing the lids, globe,and paths of light reflected from the eye to the silicon photodiodearray of an exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 16C is a plan view of the human eye showing the globe and lid andlight rays reflected from half the eye to the silicon photodiode arrayof an exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIGS. 17A-17B are elevation and section views of a drive system in anexemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 17C is an isometric of a valve stem in an exemplary Lnzwearembodiment.

FIGS. 18A-18C are isometric views illustrating the filling of Lnzwearwith fluid in an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 19A-19G are elevation sections through the valve body showing thepassageways, valve stem positions, and ports necessary for filling,purging, transferring, and pumping that serve to operate the focusingand refracting elements of Lnzwear in an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 20A-20B are plan and isometric views of the earpiece controlfoundation in an exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIGS. 20C-20D are elevation views of contact patterns on the earpiececontrol foundation that form part of the man-machine interface (MMI) inan exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 20E is a section view of the MMI showing the keys and conductivecontacts of the MMI in an exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 20F is an isometric view of an MMI including a plurality of keys inan exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 21A is a front elevation of a human left eye showing detectorcolumns as vertical lines and detector rows as horizontal lines.

FIG. 21B is a plan view of a human user's eyes, illustratingrelationships of the distances and angles involved in determining theline-of-sight of the eyes in an exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 21C is a plan view of the distances and angles involved in thedetermination of focal distances in an exemplary Lnzwear embodiment.

FIG. 22A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary Lnzwear SphericalCylindrical Detector (SCD) embodiment.

FIG. 22B is a schematic diagram of an exemplary Lnzwear SphericalCylindrical Verbal 2 (SCV2) embodiment.

FIG. 22C is a schematic diagram of an exemplary Lnzwear SphericalCylindrical Manual 2 (SCM2) embodiment.

FIGS. 23A-23B are high level flowchart of the operation of an exemplaryLnzwear Spherical Cylindrical Detector (SCD) embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an isometric view an exemplary earpiece formed ofsub-assemblies in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an detailed section view of a portion of the earpiece of FIG.24.

FIG. 26 is a section view of an exemplary valve.

FIG. 27 is an isometric view an exemplary embodiment of a hinge assemblyincluding a stationary hinge and a rotating hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The present inventions relate generally to the field of variable focuslength optics. These inventions pertain to optical instruments (e.g.,eyewear, binoculars, night vision goggles, microscopes, telescopes,rifle scopes, spotting scopes, camera viewfinders, camera lenses, etc.),which may integrate mechanical, hydraulic, optical, electronic, and/orsoftware systems. In at least some embodiments, the optical instrumentsare capable of fixed and/or continuously variable focus on objects whichmay be changing distance with respect to the user.

In various embodiments, the primary ophthalmic optics includefluid-filled optical cells capable of changing focal length. Within anoptical cell, a flexible plate is caused to deflect under hydraulicpressure to form the cell fluid into positive, null, or negative lens asthe case requires, permitting the user's eyes to focus on the object ofinterest. In at least one embodiment, one cell forms primarily sphericaloptics, and a second cell forms primarily cylindrical optics. Thespherical cell of the optical assemblies described herein can preferablycounter all refractory errors and completely compensate for presbyopia,and the cylindrical cell can compensate for astigmatism. The cylindricalpower and astigmatic angle can be varied in real time by user control.Mono-vision is also available with either eye dominant at the user'sdiscretion and is adjustable in real time by the user. Adjustment tocounter diurnal changes can also be provided by programming and/or bythe user in real time.

In at least some embodiments, real time user control of focus isimplemented via a man-machine interface (e.g., keypads) located on aeyewear earpiece. In at least some other embodiments, continuouslyvariable focusing is accomplished automatically without overt humancontrol or intervention other than directing the eyes to an object ofinterest. In such embodiments, range is determined by a detector systemthat does not transmit sound or electromagnetic energy to the object ofinterest. In some implementations, the user looks at an object ofinterest, the detector system determines the surface position of both ofthe user's irises, and a control system determines the azimuthal angleof the eyes. Based on the determined azimuthal angle, the control systemcontrols a pump system to force fluid to and/or from the optical cellsas required to achieve the desired focus at the appropriate distance.

The disclosed inventions also address the geometric relationshipsbetween the frame, the contours, the prescription lens, detectors,controls and fluid optics, providing functionality not heretoforeaddressed nor capable of being addressed by traditional eyewear. In atleast some embodiments, Lnzwear can fit a majority of faces and alignwith eyes and ears that are not symmetrically located. In preferredembodiments, the optical assemblies provide enhanced (e.g., maximum)fields of view vertically and horizontally.

The optical elements of “traditional eyewear” (glasses) are prescriptionlenses (i.e., lenses made to a prescription written by a medicalpractitioner for an ophthalmic lens) made of relatively thick and rigidtransparent plastic fitted into a frame. Because the user's visual needsmust be known and the frame selected prior to assembly, traditionaleyewear must be made by mass-custom processes. In contrast, the Lnzweardisclosed herein is a new form of eyewear that can differ fromtraditional eyewear in intent, design, manufacture, distribution, andespecially operation. Lnzwear can be made entirely by mass productionmethods, without the custom steps of traditional eyewear. As a result,all fit variables can be independently changed by the end user, andeconomies in manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance can beachieved.

As noted above, the optical assemblies described herein can be realizedin a variety of different embodiments having different sets of features.For example, features that may be present in at least one embodiment ofan optical assembly include:

-   -   1) Spherical cell(s),    -   2) Prescription lens,    -   3) Cylindrical cell(s) (and optional bias lens),    -   4) Control system in the earpiece,    -   5) Detector and controls on frame,    -   6) Drive motor,    -   7) Manual drive,    -   8) 1 pump and 1 valve,    -   9) 1 pump and 2 valves,    -   10) 2 pumps and 1 valve, and/or    -   11) 2 pumps and 2 valves.

A non-exhaustive list of possible embodiments A through R include of thefollowing elements (denoted by the foregoing ten element numbers):

-   -   A=1 (this embodiment is useful as a stand-alone unpowered        optical element in optical instruments);    -   B=1+7+8;    -   C=1+2+7+8 (this embodiment is useful as an OEM product);    -   D=1+2+4+6+8 (this embodiment is useful as an electrically        controlled product);    -   E=1+2+5+6+8 (this embodiment is useful as a single eye        assistance);    -   F=1+2+4+5+6+8 (this embodiment is referred to as SRxD and is        explicitly illustrated herein);    -   G=3+8 (this embodiment is useful as an auxiliary for other        optical instruments);    -   H=3 (this embodiment is useful as an OEM element);    -   I=1+3 (this embodiment is useful as an OEM product in other        systems);    -   J=1+3+7+9 (this embodiment is useful as a stand-alone product);    -   K=1+3+4+7+9 (this embodiment is useful as an electrically        controlled product);    -   L=1+3+4+6+9 (this embodiment is useful as a motor driven        stand-alone product drive);    -   M=1+3+4+5+6+9 (this embodiment is referred to as SCD and is        explicitly illustrated herein);    -   N=1+3+4+5+6+10    -   O=1 (this embodiment can include two spherical cells which will        magnify but not address astigmatism);    -   P=1+3 (this embodiment can include 2 spherical and 1 cylindrical        cell, which both magnify and address astigmatism);    -   Q=1+3+4+6+7+10; and    -   R=1+3+7+10.        Embodiments not explicitly illustrated separately are fully        enabled herein and included within the scope of the appended        claims.

With reference now to the figures, and with particular reference toFIGS. 1 to 6, there is illustrated a first embodiment (referred toherein as the Spherical Prescription Lens Detector (SRxD) embodiment) ofeyewear (generally referred to herein as Lnzwear). To promoteunderstanding, the description provided throughout will refer to athree-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. As shown in FIG. 1, inthis Cartesian coordinate system, the X axis is horizontal and positivein the direction from posterior of the user's head to the portion of thenose. The Y axis is horizontal, positive to the user's left, andperpendicular to the X axis. The Z axis is vertical, positive upward,and perpendicular to both the X and Y axes. Given this coordinatesystem, human eyes, if not damaged, are able to rotate about the Y and Zaxes, but not the X axis. The azimuthal angle of the eye will be anangle in the XY plane. The altitudinal angle of the eye will be an anglein the XZ plane.

In the illustrated embodiment, Lnzwear generally includes a frame thatsupports a set of optics for each eye. As best seen in the front andrear isometric views given in FIGS. 1-2 and the right side elevationview given in FIG. 3, the frame includes right and left earpieces 2.

Each earpiece 2 is coupled by a respective hinge assembly including astationary hinge 242 and a rotating hinge 243 to a ring 60 supportingthe set of optics for an eye. Hinges 242 allow earpieces 2 to foldtoward the optics for compact storage and (together with hinges 243)protect, from the elements, the electrical conductors and fluidpassageways from the earpieces 2 to the rings 60. Hinges 243 permitrotation of earpieces 2 about the Y axis with respect to ring 60 toallow the earpieces 2 to tilt upward or downward and to allow theearpieces 2 to be adjusted to fit user's ears that are not located atthe same height as one another. In addition, rings 60 can be tilted toclosely fit the shape of the user's brow and cheeks. Earpieces 2 canalso rotate about the X axis with respect to hinges 243 to allow theearpieces 250 to match the slope of the user's temple in plane YZ. Adesired tilt and slope of earpieces can thus be accomplished by the userwithout heating or bending earpieces or enduring labor delays.

In this embodiment, each earpiece 2 includes a forward section 250housing a man-machine interface 300 (e.g., a keypad), a control housingsection 260, earpiece transition 270, battery hinge 280, and battery box290 (shown as detachable in FIG. 4). Battery hinge 280 preferablyrotates and detents so the associated battery box 290 can be positionedto embrace the mastoid bone area to hold Lnzwear securely on the user'snose. Battery box 290 houses one or more batteries to power toelectronic hereinafter described. Battery box 290 has a removable cap293 to allow batteries in battery box 290 to be exchanged as needed.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, Lnzwear includes a pair of opticssets in side-by-side relation. The optics set for each eye includes abase optic 20, which in this embodiment is a frameless optic (e.g., ofplastic or glass) having an anterior surface 21 bordered by a contour34. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the base optics 20 are supported by apair of rings 60. As best seen in the detailed view given in FIG. 5,rings are joined by a nose tube 230 received within nose tube housings61. Nose tube housings 61 and nose tube 230 are preferably configuredwith corresponding non-circular shapes such that the spacing betweennose tube housings 61 along the Y axis can be adjust (e.g., via setscrews), but such that the pair of optics sets cannot rotate relative toone another about the Y axis by virtue of their non-circular shapes,

Moveably coupled to nose tub 230 is a nose slide 221 that is furthercoupled to nose rest including stem 220, arms 222, sockets 223, and nodepads 224. The lateral spaces between nose slide 221 and nose tubehousings 61 allow each ring 60 to be selectively positioned (andrepositioned) relative to nose slide 221 so that the optics for each eyeare aligned with the user's eye along the Y axis. The individualadjustability of the optics position allows vision to be optimized evenif the locations of the user's eyes are not symmetrical with respect tothe nose. In at least one embodiment, nose tube 230 has formed thereon anumber of visible finely engraved lines that can counted and input intothe control system to provide the spacing of the optics. In at leastsome embodiments, the optics spacing (e.g., from the end of each ring 60to nose slide 221) can be input to the control system, for example,through MMI 300. The interior shape of rings 60 allow the optics set foreach eye to be tilted about the Y axis in plane XZ, if desired.

In preferred embodiments, mechanical, electrical and optical componentsare generally designed to serve various face widths and both sides ofLnzwear, which significantly reduces the design, tooling, and inventorycosts involved in manufacturing and distributing Lnzwear.

With reference now to FIG. 7A, there is illustrated a front elevationview of a base optic blank 10 from which a plurality of differentcontours can be formed. In general, any shape can be contoured from abase optic blank 10 using the space from the periphery of 10 to theinner reaches of fillet 28. For example, contour 34 illustrated in FIGS.1-6 as well as different contour 35 can both be manufactured from baseoptic blank 10.

FIG. 7B is an isometric section depicting in greater detail the baseoptic 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. As shown, base optic 20 has a convexanterior surface 21 (as previously seen in FIGS. 1-6) and a concaveposterior surface 22. Posterior surface 22 is concentrically surroundedby a torus 23, a groove 24, and an inner wall 25 having a profilegenerally parallel to the X axis. Inner wall 25 terminates at aninterface 26, against which a ring 60 is configured to seat. Interface26 is bounded by an outer wall 27, which is generally parallel to theinner wall 27. At its base, outer wall 27 transitions via a fillet 28 toa peripheral surface 29.

As further illustrated in FIG. 7B, base optic 20 has formed thereinpassageways 31 and 32, which allow a volume of liquid fluid to be forcedinto and withdrawn from an enclosed volume posterior to surface 22 ofbase optic 20. A seal 33 prevents fluid leakage from passageway 32.

FIG. 7C depicts in isolation the ring 60 of one side (in this case theleft side) of an exemplary Lnzwear SRxD embodiment. Ring 60, which has agenerally planar form, includes a hinge housing 66 for receiving one endof hinge 242 and a nose tube housing 61 for receiving one end of nosetube 230. Ring 60 surrounds and supports a prescription or bias lens120, which can have any selected default power of spherical and/orcylindrical correction, including a null power. Prescription lens 120 isretained within ring 60 by a lens keeper 130.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8B, there are depicted isometric section viewsof the optics set of one side of an exemplary Lnzwear SRxD embodiment.In this embodiment, the optics set forms a compound lens including, fromposterior to anterior along the X axis, a prescription (or bias) lens120 held within ring 60, a spherical plate 40 used to form a sphericalfluid cell, and a base optic 20. Prescription lens 120, which includes aposterior surface 122 and an anterior surface 121, is spaced by a smallair gap from posterior surface 42 of spherical plate 40. The air gap ispreferably of sufficient dimension to accommodate the posteriordeflection of spherical plate 40 without contact between posteriorsurface 42 of spherical plate 40 and anterior surface 121 ofprescription lens 120. Similarly, the radius of curvature seen inposterior surface 22 of base optic 20 is preferably chosen to allow fora desired range of anterior deflection of the spherical plate 40 withoutphysical interference with posterior surface 22 of base optic 20. Theshort distance from the apex of the anterior surface 21 of base optic 20to the posterior surface 122 of prescription lens 120 attests to theefficiency of the disclosed optics.

Spherical plate 40 is mounted in groove 24 of base optic 20 and restsagainst torus 23. As an anterior surface of ring 60 contacts interface26 of base optic 20, a shoulder formed in the anterior surface of ring60 secures and constrains a peripheral seal 50 in contact with bothinner wall 25 of base optic 20 and a peripheral region 46 of sphericalplate 40. The sealing of spherical plate 40 within the inner wall 25 ofbase optic 20 forms a liquid-tight fluid chamber bounded by base optic20 and spherical plate 40. In use, this fluid chamber holds a generallytransparent fluid 570, which by selected variations in the hydraulicpressure applied, deflects spherical plate 40 (and in some embodiments,base optic 20) and forms fluid 570 into a generally spherical lens of adesired power. Spherical plate 40 is preferably sized such that thedimension across the plate (e.g., its diameter, if circular) is slightlyless than the corresponding dimension of wall 25, but sufficiently largeto maintain the liquid-tight seal of peripheral seal 50 as the peripheryof spherical plate 40 moves radially toward the X axis as sphericalplate 40 is deflected and moves radially outward from the X axis asspherical plate 40 returns to its undeflected shape. Peripheral seal 50is preferably restrained by ring 60 so that the volume of peripheralseal 50 is unchanged by changes in hydraulic pressure, simplifying thepreferably monotonic relationship between the hydraulic pressure anddeflection of spherical plate 40. Peripheral seal 50 preferably exerts aforce on spherical plate 40 at all angles about periphery 46 ofspherical plate 40 and applies a slight bending moment on periphery ofspherical plate 40 when spherical plate 40 deflects positively ornegatively, thus causing spherical plate 40 to form not a pure sphericalshape, but one that is slightly aspheric and beneficial to human sight.Spherical plate 40 deflects without undue radial or bending stress onplate 40 because plate 40 is not restrained at more than one pointradially.

In the illustrated embodiment, there is only one (i.e., a single)peripheral seal 50 for each optics set. Prior art designs have requiredmultiple seals or adhesives to stretch and hold membranes to theirframes. Neither of these deficiencies is present in this embodiment.Plate 40, when deflected, is subjected to very mild radial retardingforces whether the plate 40 edge is increasing or decreasing incurvature. There are no excessive stretching forces on plate 40 as inother inventors' designs. Plate 40 is smaller in diameter than wall 25in which it resides, so the wall 25, while exerting a slight contactstress, does not exert a radially compressive force on plate 40.

The material (e.g., plastic) utilized to form spherical plate 40 and itsthickness can vary between embodiments. In a preferred embodiment,spherical plate 40 is transparent and, when not subject to hydraulicpressure, is stress-free and a null optic (e.g., planar). In general, itis desirable if spherical plate 40 is thick enough to negate thegravitational forces of fluid 570 on spherical plate 40, but as thin asis reasonable to reduce the hydraulic force required to deflect it andthus reduce battery usage. It should be noted that some thin membranes(e.g., of plastic film) can exhibit this gravity-induced opticalaberration, which is preferably avoided by Lnzwear.

A fail safe aspect of the spherical fluid cell is created by thecurvature of anterior surface 21, curvature of posterior surface 22,thickness of base optic 20 at its apex, index of refraction of baseoptic 20, index of refraction of fluid 570, index of refraction ofspherical plate 40, and thickness of spherical plate 40. With loss ofhydraulic pressure, the fluid cell preferably forms a null opticequivalent to parallel surfaces of a flat plate. When fluid 570 isabsent, the empty cell preferably forms a weak negative lens, whichwould enhance distance vision (which is valuable, for example, if apresbyope is driving a vehicle at high speed).

Referring specifically to FIG. 8B, in the Lnzwear SRxD embodiment, ring60 includes an interior chamber 90 housing a line-of-sight detectorcomprising a ring printed circuit board (PCB) 80 bearing a set ofsensors, for example, a plurality of silicon photodiode arrays (SPDAs)90 and associated transfer optics 100. Chamber 90 is located radiallyoutside the prescription lens 120 and preferably beyond the peripheralvision of the user, but is designed to receive ambient or providedelectromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light or other electromagneticfrequency or frequencies) reflected by the user's lids, lashes, globe,iris, and pupil. As described below with respect to the Lnzwear SCDembodiment, the line-of-sight detector is utilized to detect a vectorfrom the user's eyes to an object that is the subject of focus of theuser's eyes.

FIG. 8C is a right side elevation section of spherical plate 40 of FIGS.8A-8B. In FIG. 8C, anterior and posterior deflections of spherical plate40 are both illustrated, where anterior deflection (i.e., deflection tothe right of origin point 47 under negative pressure (vacuum)) formsfluid 571 into a negative lens and posterior deflection (i.e.,deflection to the left of origin point 47 under positive pressure) formsfluid 571 into positive lens. (The concavity of the posterior surface 22of base optic 20 is preferably great enough to accommodate the desiredrange of anterior deflection of spherical plate 40 without contactbetween spherical plate 40 and base optic 20.) When spherical plate 40is deflected under hydraulic pressure, the periphery 46 of plate 40 ispermitted to move and outward relative to the X axis and is permitted torotate under the influence of edge moments, all while remaining incontact with torus 23 and peripheral seal 50. In a preferred embodiment,the image produced by the spherical fluid cell is of ophthalmic qualityand is free from any aberrations detectable by unaided human vision. Theability to produce an ophthalmic quality spherical fluid lens is due atleast in part to the strength of spherical plate 40, the compressiveforces exerted on spherical plate 40 by peripheral seal 50, thecoefficient of friction between spherical plate 40 and torus 23, and thelack of significant constraint of spherical plate 40 in the radialdirection. In a preferred embodiment in which spherical plate 40 andinner wall 25 are both circular, spherical plate 40 is restrained in theradial direction at only one point of contact at any given time.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A-9B, there are depicted isometric and sectionviews of the set of optics for one eye in a LnzwearSpherical-Cylindrical-Detector (SCD) embodiment. As will be appreciatedfrom the following, the SCD embodiment has some commonality in designwith the previously described SRxD embodiment, but also provides acylindrical fluid lens suitable for correction of astigmatic vision.

In this SCD embodiment, the set of optics, a pair of which can beassembled on a frame as previously described, includes a spherical opticas well as a cylindrical optic. As described above with respect to theSRxD embodiment, the spherical optic is formed from base optic 20, aspherical plate 40, and a fluid 570 shaped into a selected sphericallens by the application of hydraulic pressure. The only difference inthe spherical optic from that previously described with respect to theSRxD embodiment is that peripheral seal 50 is retained by a frame 140rather than ring 60. In the SCD embodiment, the cylindrical opticincludes frame 140, which holds a cylindrical housing 620 utilized toform a cylindrical fluid cell as described below. Because the point ofgreatest deflection of the spherical cell is located at its center andthe point of greatest deflection of the cylindrical cell is located atits periphery, the two cells can be nested very closely together. Inuse, the posterior surface of frame 140 is preferably covered with anencapsulation layer 210 shown in FIG. 16B, but omitted from theillustrations given in FIGS. 9A-9B in order to permit clear view of thecomponents of a line-of-sight detector.

In the depicted embodiment, the line-of-sight detector includes a framePCB 160, which is mounted facing posterior (i.e., facing the user'seyes). Frame PCB 160 provides a physical substrate for the line-of-sightdetector, as well as power and communication to all electroniccomponents of the line-of-sight detector. In this exemplary embodiment,multiple lamps 190 angularly directing electromagnetic radiation (e.g.,visible light or other electromagnetic frequency or frequencies)rearward are provided on both the left and right sides of cylindricalhousing 620. Lamps 190 are located and directed both upward and downwardto illuminate different regions of the eye and to produce as muchreflected (scattered) light from the eye as possible with minimumoverall light. In some embodiments, lamps 190 are illuminatedselectively (e.g., when ambient light is insufficient to illuminate theeye), and ambient light is utilized when possible for power efficiency.Lamps 190 are preferably located on frame PCB 160 near the equator ofthe eye to allow light to proceed to the globe 933 and iris 928 and notbe occluded by the upper lid 931 and lower lid 932 and their lashes(see, e.g., FIG. 16B).

Light reflected from the eye is collected by transfer optics 180.(Encapsulation 210 is either transparent to the detected frequency orfrequencies of electromagnetic radiation or has ports formed in it toadmit the radiation to the transfer optics 180.) Transfer optics 180 aretransparent pathways encased in opaque material, which form columnsevenly spaced from one XZ plane to an adjacent XZ plane and rowsradiating from a working point (line) such that reflected light issampled from the lids, globe, and iris from the bottom of the eye to thetop of the eye. The distance between XZ planes in silicon photodiodearray 170 is on the order of microns. Light captured by each transferoptic 180 is transferred to the active sensor plane of a correspondingphotodiode in SPDA 170. A microprocessor 200, which in this embodimentis illustrated as located toward the upper left corner of frame PCB 160,interrogates silicon photodiode arrays 170 to determine the pattern ofthe reflected light, and from this data, the line-of-sight (as describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 21A-21C).

Referring specifically to FIG. 9B, the cylindrical cell includes acylindrical housing 620 having an anterior surface 624, a posteriorsurface 625, an exterior circumference bounded by frame 140, a sidewall621 extending along the X axis, and an interior circumference bounded bysidewall 621. Cylindrical housing 620 can be rotated manually (or withan electric motor) about the X axis while mounted in frame 140, andfluid is retained between frame 140 and cylindrical housing 620 by apair of circumferential cylindrical housing seals 660 retained inrecesses 628 (see, FIGS. 10A-10C) in sidewall 621. The cylindrical celladditionally includes a cylindrical plate 640 (which has an anteriorsurface 641 and a posterior surface 642) retained within the interiordiameter of cylindrical housing 620 and a cylindrical plate seal 650forming a circumferential fluid-tight seal against the interiorcircumference of sidewall 621 of cylindrical housing 620. Thecylindrical cell forms a cylindrical lens when fluid 570 is pumped intothe volume between posterior surface 642 of cylindrical plate 640 andthe anterior surface 624 of cylindrical housing 620. The spherical celland cylindrical cell are preferably provided fluid 570 from the valvesection described below via separate fluid passageways.

FIGS. 10A-10C provides a section views of embodiments of the cylindricalhousing 620 of FIGS. 9A-9B in isolation. As shown, sidewall 621 has apair of mounting holes 626 formed therein for receiving a correspondingpair of external pivots 670 (see also, the elevation view given in FIG.11). Mounting holes 626 and external pivots 670 are preferably locatedat either end of the equator of cylindrical housing (e.g., the diametralline). Cylindrical housing 620 additionally has a pair of internalpivots 627 aligned with and posterior to external pivots 670. In someembodiments, internal pivots 627 can be implemented with pivot pins likeexternal pivots 670. In alternative embodiments illustrated in FIGS.10A-10C, internal pivots 627 can be implemented with bosses formedintegrally with cylindrical housing 620 at the edges of anterior surface624. External pivots 670 and internal pivots 627 are preferably spacedso that each is in firm contact with a surface of cylindrical plate 640(not shown in FIGS. 10A-10C for clarity). Thus, when the cylindricaloptics are assembled, one external pivot 670 is anterior to cylindricalplate 640 and one internal pivot 627 is posterior to cylindrical plate640 at each side.

With the described arrangement, cylindrical plate 640 is retained incylindrical housing 620 by external pivots 670, internal pivots 627, andcylindrical plate seal 650, and is supported at each end of its equatorby an internal pivot 627 and external pivot 670. A passageway 631 to theenclosed volume posterior of cylindrical plate 640 is in fluidcommunication with a groove 629 enclosed by seals 660 disposed ingrooves 628. Groove 629 is in turn in communication with a passageway152 of the frame and it, in turn, with passageway 153 to the hinge. Asfluid is forced into the interstitial space between anterior surface 624of cylindrical housing 620 and posterior surface 642 of cylindricalplate 640, the unconstrained edges of cylindrical plate 640 deflectanteriorly (along the X axis) about the external pivots 670 in a shapemuch like that of butterfly wings, as shown in the side and frontelevation views given in FIGS. 12-13. The deflection of cylindricalplate 640 forms fluid 570 into a cylindrical lens. Given the ability tovary the deflection, that is to vary the power of the cylindrical lensand the ability of cylindrical housing 620 to rotate about the X axis,the cylindrical cell can completely counter the astigmatic error of theeye. Moreover, since the cylindrical cell provides a continuous range ofcorrection rather than discrete increments of correction, thecylindrical cell can provide a more precise correction than the quarterdiopter increments which are standard in traditional eyewear. If at anysubsequent time, the cylindrical correction is not appropriate, adifferent correction can be established for the then-existing conditionsby the user in real time. No scheduling, appointments, testing,re-prescribing, re-manufacturing, shipping, re-edge grind and beveling,or fitting to frames is required.

In at least some embodiments, cylindrical housing 620 can incorporate apositive bias lens 632, as shown in FIG. 10B, or a negative bias lens633, as shown in FIG. 10C. To accommodate a variety of users, manydifferent bias lenses (e.g., 12) providing differing focal distances canalternatively be employed within Lnzwear to support users needingdiffering corrections. In some alternative embodiments, the bias lensescan be a separate lens added to the null powered cylindrical housingposterior to surface 625. It should be appreciated that bias lenses,however implemented, are not prescription lenses and contribute to theability to mass produce Lnzwear.

The cylindrical fluid cell disclosed herein is unique and unobvious, forexample, because it is constrained in the X direction at only two pointson the equator of its area in its YZ plane and not otherwise constrainedin X around its periphery. The deflected cylindrical plate and theangular position of the cylindrical housing, as indicated by thepositions of the pivots about the X axis, determine the cylindricalpower and astigmatic axis for countering astigmatism. The tendency ofbending materials is to obey Poison's ratio, but by extending the pivotsinward along their radial lines a superior stiffness (less deflection)is established in the XY plane perpendicular to the equator such that novisible aberration occurs in forming the fluid into a cylindrical lens.Because the cylindrical fluid cell is controlled independently from thespherical fluid cell, the need for a massive inventory of the 1360standard prescription lenses is eliminated.

The process by which the appropriate cylindrical correction forcountering astigmatism can be found can include the user firstdetermining if any astigmatic correction is needed or desired. In casesin which there is not any human astigmatism, no vision improvementutilizing the cylindrical cell is desirable or necessary. If astigmatismis present in the human user, the search for the appropriate cylindricalcorrection starts by imbuing the cylindrical fluid cell with a weak (orlow) cylindrical power. If there is no improvement in vision, the angleof the cylindrical fluid cell can be moved from a zero degree angle (asshown in FIG. 13) by rotating the cylindrical fluid cell about its Xaxis, for example, by a small finite angle. If improvement is observed,the cylindrical fluid cell can be moved an additional degree. Ifimprovement is not observed, the angle of the cylindrical fluid cell canbe returned to the previous angle and the diopter of the cylindricalfluid cell can be increased. This process of incremental change and/orreversion to a prior diopter and/or angle can be repeated until apreferred cylindrical correction is obtained. It should be appreciatedthat during this process the cylindrical fluid cell need not be rotatedin full one degree increments, which makes a more precise counter toastigmatism. Another advantage is the increased accuracy achieved byvirtue of the user using operationally the same optical equipment thatwas used to detect and counter the astigmatism (i.e., Lnzwear servesboth as a phoropter and as eyewear).

Referring now to FIGS. 14-15, there are illustrated isometric andelevation views showing a transfer optic 180 and associated SPDA 170 ofa line-of-sight detector as if transparent. As best seen in FIG. 14,SPDA 170 includes an active sensor area 175 in which light or otherelectromagnetic radiation is sensed. Transfer optic 180, which containsa multiplicity of light paths spaced in rows and columns in an opaquesupport medium, directs light (or other electromagnetic radiation)reflected from areas of the eyes and their environs to active sensorarea 175 of SPDA 170. FIG. 15 illustrates that light rays reflected fromthe lids, globe, and iris of the eye and captured by transfer optic 180converge toward a working point (WP) representing a reference line thatis located anterior to the transfer optic. The depicted geometry cancapture all incoming rays in the angle bounded by rays 185 and 186, butnot all such rays are needed in line-of-sight detection as incoming raysbetween rays 184 and 186 include those rays originating from therelevant area of the eye.

With reference now to FIGS. 17A-17B, there are illustrated a right sideelevation view and right side partial section view of an exemplary drivesystem suitable for use in at least Lnzwear SRxD and SCD embodiments tofocus the spherical fluid cells and, if present, determine the power ofthe cylindrical fluid cell. A similar drive system is preferablydisposed in each Lnzwear earpiece.

The illustrated embodiment of drive system 309 includes motor 310 (e.g.,a battery-powered electric motor powered by a battery box 290) andassociated encoder 312 and motor and encoder leads 315. The drive system309 further includes bulkheads 340 and 360, a pump body 410 housing apiston 380 driven by motor 310, a reservoir 460 for fluid 570, and avalve section 420 in fluid communication with pump body 410 andreservoir 460 that controls flow of fluid 570 between reservoir 460,pump body 410 and the spherical and/or cylindrical fluid cells. Notapparent in these views is the non-circular (e.g., lozenge or racetrackshape) in plane YZ of pump body 410, piston 380, and piston seal 390. Asa result, piston 380 and the threaded piston rod 370 attached theretotranslate, but cannot rotate, within pump body 410.

Referring specifically to FIG. 17B, motor 310 has a motor shaft 314 onwhich a pinion 320 is mounted. Pinion 320 mates with gear nut 330, whichis rotatable in bearings 350 mounted in bulkhead 360. Gear nut 330 has athreaded central bore that engages threaded piston screw 370. With thisarrangement, piston 380 can be driven forward and backward in theinterior of pump body 410. The range of motion of piston 380 under theurging of motor 310 is preferably limited to prevent collision of piston380 and pump body 410. In the depicted embodiment, piston rod 370travels within a limit switch body 344 that houses at least two lamps345L, 345R and at least two corresponding limit sensors 346L, 346R. Whenlimit sensor 346L is occluded from the light of lamp 345L by the end 372of threaded rod 370 or light from lamp 345R is sensed by sensor 345R,the resulting signal notifies the control system, which responds byhalting rotation of motor shaft 314 and thus the travel of piston 380.As shown in FIG. 17A, limit switch body 344 may additionally be providedwith one or more intermediate position indicators. For example, limitswitch body 344 may include lamp 345M and a corresponding sensor 345R,which transmits a signal to the control system to indicate thetransition between negative lens forming regions (those imparting aconcave shape to spherical plate 40) and positive lens forming regions(those imparting a convex shape to spherical plate 40).

Valve section 420 includes a fill port 422 by which fluid 570 may beintroduced into the drive system and a pump port 424 communicating withthe variable interior volume enclosed by piston 380 and the walls ofpump body 410. Valve section 420 additionally has a cylindrical cellport 426 and spherical cell port 427 utilized to route fluid to and froma cylindrical fluid cell and/or spherical fluid cell. Valve section alsoincludes valve port 425 selectively connectable to cylindrical cell port426 and spherical cell port 427, and further includes a reservoir port423 communicating with a reservoir 460 for holding makeup fluid. In thedepicted embodiment, reservoir 460 is a flexible vessel attached toreservoir port 423 by a reservoir support 428, reservoir flange 429 andreservoir keeper 470. Reservoir 460 can, with the movement of the piston380 and the presence of external pressure, be filled and emptied offluid 570 and atmospheric gases regardless of attitude. Reservoir 460provides make up fluid volume to pump body 410 between maintenanceperiods due to any losses of fluid, for example, due to leaks in theseals, fluid loss through the plastic used to form Lnzwear, evaporation,etc.

In at least one embodiment, the valve section contains two manuallypositioned valves, upper valve 450U and lower valve 450L. (These valvescan be motor controlled in an alternative embodiment.) An exemplaryvalve 450 is illustrated in FIG. 17C. As shown, valve 450 includes avalve body 451 having an interior channel of valve port 452 forming anelbow therein. The sealing surfaces of the valve body 451 are preferablysmooth, of high surface finish, slightly compressible, made to seal thevalve ports, and maintain fluid tight integrity at all valve stempositions. The valve stems, which are retained in valve section 410between flanges 453 at either end of the valve body 451, are preferablydetented to valve body 451. FIG. 17C further illustrates that valve port452 is aligned with an icon 454 preferably extending to the exterior ofthe earpiece. In at least some embodiments, icon 454 is a custom socketfor a stem driver of the same profile, which allows the user to manuallyrotate the valve body 451. When Lnzwear is assembled, valve port 452 isnot visible to the user, but the user can easily visually determine theorientation of valve port 452 by the corresponding orientation of icon454.

FIGS. 18A-18C illustrate filling the drive system 309 of an exemplaryLnzwear embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18A, the filling process beginswith the provision of a fluid vial 720 containing clean fluid and thepump 710 that is clean and free of fluid. To extract fluid from fluidvial 720, piston 700 of pump 710 is retracted to fill pump 710 withambient air. As depicted in FIGS. 18A-18B, a needle 702 attached orintegral to the tip of pump 710 is then used to penetrate the seal offluid vial 720, and piston 700 is engage to discharge the air withinpump 720 into fluid vial 720. Piston 700 is then retracted to draw fluidfrom fluid vial 720 into pump 710. As depicted in FIG. 18C, needle 702of pump 710 is thereafter inserted into fill port 422 of valve body 410,and piston 700 is partially engaged to discharge fluid from pump 710into drive system 309. Depending on the position of upper valve 450U,fluid introduced in drive system 420 will flow to reservoir port 423 orto piston port 424.

With reference now to FIGS. 19A, 19B, 19C, 19D, 19E, 19F, and 19G, thereare illustrated elevation sections through valve body 420 showing thepassageways, valve stem positions, and ports necessary for the filling,purging, transferring, and pumping that serve to operate the focusingand refracting elements of one embodiment of Lnzwear.

FIG. 19A shows the upper valve 450U in position 431, connecting fillport 422 to reservoir port 423 and sealing pump port 424. FIG. 19A alsoshows lower valve 450L in position 437, sealing off ports 425, 426, and427. With this valve arrangement, pump 710 can fill reservoir 460without the piston 380 moving.

FIG. 19B shows the upper valve 450U in position 432, connecting fillport 422 to pump port 424 and sealing reservoir port 423 while lowervalve 450L is in position 437, sealing ports 425, 426, and 427. Pressurefrom pump 710 is not needed while filling the pump 410 and moving piston380. Pump 410 is effective when port 425 is sealed.

FIG. 19C shows upper valve 450U in position 433, sealing fill port 422and connecting reservoir port 423 to pump port 424, while the lowervalve 450L is in position 437, sealing ports 425, 426, and 427. Whilevalves 450U and 450L are in positions 433 and 437, respectively, movingpiston 380 will transfer fluid 570 from reservoir 460 to pump 410 andvice versa.

FIG. 19D shows upper valve 450U in position 438, sealing off ports 422,423, and 424, while lower valve 450L is in position 434, connecting port425 to port 427 while sealing port 426. Moving the piston 380 whilevalves 450U and 450L are in positions 438 and 434, respectively, adjuststhe cylindrical power of cylindrical fluid cell.

FIG. 19E shows upper valve 450U in position 438, sealing ports 422, 423,and 424, while lower valve 450L is in position 436, connecting port 425with port 427 and sealing port 426. By moving the piston while valves450U and 450L are in positions 438 and 434, the spherical power of thespherical fluid cell is altered.

FIG. 19F shows upper valve 450U in position 432, connecting port 422 toport 424 and sealing port 423, while lower valve 450U is in position436, connecting port 425 to port 427. This arrangement opens up thespherical fluid cell to atmospheric pressure and seals port 426. If thespherical plate 40 is deflected, the stored energy will eject fluid 570to pump 410 or the atmosphere until spherical plate is at zerodeflection. This arrangement is useful in allowing piston 380 to bemoved to the neutral position at central sensor 346M, establishing aproper relationship between cylindrical plate 40 and the position ofpiston 380.

FIG. 19G shows the upper valve 450U in position 432, connecting port 422to port 424 and sealing port 423, while lower valve 450U is in position434, connecting port 425 to port 426 while sealing port 427. Thisarrangement is useful in initializing cylindrical plate 640 to beinitialized to zero deflection. Gases are purged from the system topromote a monotonic relationship between the position of piston 380 andfocal distance. Gas can be stored in reservoir 460, and pressurerelieved on reservoir 460 as well.

Referring now to FIGS. 20A-20F, mechanical and electrical components ofan exemplary control system suitable for use in Lnzwear embodiments willnow be described. With reference first to FIGS. 20A-20B, plan andisometric views of an exemplary embodiment of an earpiece controlfoundation 559 are given. In a preferred embodiment, earpiece controlfoundation 559 is sized and configured to be inserted and housed withinthe interior volume of earpieces 2. In the depicted example, earpiececontrol foundation 559 can extend between a forward end 574 proximaterotating hinge 243 of earpiece 2 and a rearward end 572 proximate to earpiece transition 270.

A best seen in FIG. 20B, in the illustrated embodiment, earpiece controlfoundation 559 is a flex-circuit (flexible plastic insulator (polyimideand copper) including a plurality of vertical segments 573 on which areattached or formed electronic components of the control system. Theseelectronic components can include, for example, earpiece controller 611described below with reference to FIGS. 22A-22B. On the exterior surfaceof earpiece control foundation 559, conductive patterns 577 of theman-machine interface 300 are formed (see, e.g., FIG. 20C). Forward end574 of earpiece control foundation 559 is coupled through hinges 243 and242 to provide power for frame PCBs 160.

In the illustrated embodiment, lead 562 is coupled to motor leads ofmotor and encoder leads 315; lead 563 is coupled to encoder leads ofmotor and encoder leads 315; leads 564, 565, and 566 are coupled to thelamps 345 and limit sensors 346; lead 567 transmits signals from anoptional microphone 613 (see, e.g., FIG. 22A); lead 568 transmitssignals to optional speaker 635 (see, e.g., FIG. 22A); lead 569communicates signals to an optional radio transmitter 595 (see, e.g.,FIG. 22A); lead 571 communicates signals received from radio receiver592 (see, e.g., FIG. 22A); and lead 572 provides power from battery box290. Leads 575 and 576 communicate outputs from an optional camera 617(see, e.g., FIG. 22A) as inputs to the control system and transmitcamera control signals to optional camera 617, respectively. Notexplicitly illustrated are flex circuits disposed in battery hinge 280and the battery box 290.

FIGS. 20C-20F depict the construction of an exemplary MMI 300, which inthe illustrated embodiment includes multiple keys 301. The MMI 300 canbe implemented on both left and right side earpieces 2.

Referring first to FIGS. 20C-20D, there are depicted larger and detailedelevation views of a portion of the outer surface 561 of the earpiececontrol foundation 559. As shown in FIG. 20C, near forward end 574,outer surface 561 of earpiece control foundation 559 has a plurality ofcontact patterns 577 formed thereon corresponding to the locations ofthe keys 301 of MMI 300. FIG. 20D illustrates that contact patterns 577can take the form of concentric interlaced conductive traces coupled toa switch lead 578 and a common lead 579. FIG. 20D further illustratesthat positive and negative voltage conductors can also be formed onouter surface 561 in order to supply power to frame PCBs 160 via thehinges 242, 243.

As best seen in the section view given in FIG. 20E, when the userpresses on a key 301 of MMI 300 toward flex circuit 574, the walls ofthe key 301 collapse and produce a tactile event, and the associatedcontact 302 makes electrical contact with the conductive traces formingthe contact pattern 577 on earpiece control foundation 559. When the key301 is released, another tactile event occurs as the key 301 resumes itsundeflected shape. Each key 301 of MMI keypads 300 can be assigned oneor more input values by the earpiece controller 611, sufficient to inputspherical and/or cylindrical lens correction values and to select adesired mode of operation. Modes of operation can include, for example,initialize, focus continually, fix focus at distance M, move one shaftencoder increment, move N shaft encoder increments, fill reservoir, fillpump and cells, purge reservoir, purge pump and spherical cell, purgecylindrical cell, fill cylinder cell, adjust cylinder cell, operate nearside, operate far side, operate both sides, and index pump withcontrols, among others.

With reference now to FIGS. 16A-16C, there are illustrated is a frontelevation view, side elevation view, and top plan view of a human eye927. Turning first to FIG. 16A, eye 927 includes globe 933, an iris 928having an iris circumference 934 and an iris equator (diameter) 935, anda pupil 929 surrounded by iris 928. It should be appreciated that theline along iris equator 935 is not a visible feature of eye 927;instead, it is a construct whose endpoints are indicated by the boundaryof the color of iris 928 and the white of globe 933, along a horizontalline thru the center of iris 928. By definition, when eye 927 is pointedstraight ahead along the X axis, the ends of iris equator 935 arelocated at point A1 936 at the extremity of iris 936 on the nose sideand point B1 937 at the extremity of iris 928 on the ear side. When theeye is pointed in any another direction, the endpoints of iris equator935 are located at points termed A2 and B2 (e.g., A2 938 and B2 939).Since eye 927 does not rotate about the X axis, equator line 935 and itsendpoints A1, B1 or A2, B2 will always be horizontal (parallel with theY axis). The azimuthal angle defined by the relative locations of A1 andA2 or B1 and B2 defines the angular position of the eye 927 so useful indetermining range. The real aspect of interest is not the points per se,but the movement in Y of A1 to A2 and B1 to B2.

FIG. 16B illustrates the geometric relationships in the XZ verticalplane between an upper eye lid 931 of eye 927, a lower eye lid 932 ofeye 927, a set of upper reflected rays 942 reflected to transfer optics180, and a set of lower reflected rays 941 reflected to transfer optics180. In FIG. 16B, frame encapsulation 210 is shown covering allelectronics and lamps 190 on frame PCB 160.

FIG. 16C shows upper and lower reflected rays 941, 942 for the righthalf of the left eye 927. Note that upper and lower reflected rays 941,942 exceed in Y the zones of possible locations for points A2 and B2.Though the design of the earpieces are made to keep Lnzwear up on thenose, this additional design margin allow the line-of-sight detectorsystem to obtain consistent data even though Lnzwear may be locatedlower, more forward, and rotated about the Y axis. The line-of-sightdetector also obtains the highest control performance from the physicalresolution of the sensor spacing.

With reference now to FIGS. 21A-21C, the geometry employed toautomatically determine the line-of-sight and focal distance of humaneyes in one embodiment is now described. FIG. 21A is a front elevationview of a left eye 927 that illustrates the search for the position ofthe eye by the line-of-sight detector in some embodiments. In additionto the globe 933, iris 928, and pupil 929, FIG. 21A schematicallyrepresents the extent of eyelids 931, 932 by ellipse 940.

In FIG. 21A, a grid of vertical and horizontal lines overlays theillustration of eye 927, where the intersections in the grid arerepresentative of sensor locations. The longer vertical lines, which arelabeled left to right D, E, F, H, J, U, T and S, represent the centralrays of adjacent SPDAs 170. Short vertical lines representingimmediately adjacent columns of sensors within SPDAs 170 are alsoillustrated, where k is adjacent to J, m adjacent to k, n adjacent m, padjacent n, q adjacent p, v adjacent U, w adjacent v, and x adjacent w.Long horizontal lines numbered 120 and downward to 105 represent therows of the detector projected onto eye 927. In this example, thedetector column planes are vertical in the XZ plane, and uniformlyspaced along Y. The lowest angle row is horizontal (XY plane), and alllight paths radiate from a working line anterior to the SPDA 170 asillustrated in FIG. 15. The spacings of the sensors in a row on theSPDAs 170 are preferably uniform in Y, and the spacings of the sensorsin columns in the SPDAs 170 are preferably uniform in Z, but thevertical and horizontal spacings need not be equal. The rows are locatedbetween horizontal (zero degrees) and approximately 60 degrees above thehorizon, but as discussed with respect to FIG. 15 those below about 30degrees are generally not useful in this Lnzwear embodiment.

The light paths of the transfer optic 180 allow reflected light to bedetected from near the eye and from the eye itself. The intensity of thereflected light arriving at SPDAs 170 is determined by the lightgradient, surface curvature, color, and surface finish of the lids,globe, iris, and pupil. Herein the varying light intensities can bedenoted as by “L” if reflected from the lids, “G” if reflected from theglobe, “I” if reflected from the iris, and “P” if reflected from thepupil. Each ray will carry what is directed along its path to itsindividual SPDA 170.

Although sensors of SPDAs 170 can collect light from the entire area ofthe eye and its environs, typically only a small fraction of the totalnumber of SPDAs 170 are utilized in a search for points A2 and B2, whichrepresent the current locations of the endpoints of iris equator 935. Itis possible for one or both of points A2 or B2 to be occluded by a lid931 or 932 while eye 927 is still able to see, and therefore the searchinitially includes both points A2 and B2. As soon as either one ofpoints A2 or B2 is located, the surface position determination canproceed utilizing only one point's data.

Simplistically, the search for points A2 and B2 begins in column D (nearthe nose) for A2 and proceeds from D to J using only the central columnsfrom neighboring SPDAs 170. From column D outward there will be ageneral pattern starting at the upper ray 120 and proceeding downward of“LLL”, that is, a light intensity having the signature of being receivedfrom lids 931, 932 alone. As the search proceeds from the nose to pupil929, a pattern of LLLGGGLLL is detected, indicative of receivingreflected light from lids 931, 932 and globe 933 in columns E, F, and H.In column J, the general pattern of received light will be “LLLIIILLL”,indicative of receiving light from the upper eyelid 931, iris 928, andlower eyelid 932. A multiplicity of detections from iris 928 (e.g.,“III”) indicates that the search row has proceeded toward the pupilbeyond A2. At this point using adjacent columns of rays interrogatingback toward H, one row at a time, one can expect a pattern ofLLLGGGIIIGGGLLL until at column p a pattern will be LLLGGIIIGGLLL, andfinally at column q “LLLGGIGGLLL, where the single “I” indicates thatthe Y value of column q is the location for the Y value for point A2.(Note that it is possible to get a pattern of “LLLILLL” when lids 931,932 are almost closed.) Searching for point B2 can follow the sameprocess and can take place in tandem with the search for A2. Inembodiments supporting automatic focus, the Y values of points A2 and B2for both eyes are preferably transmitted to their respective controlsystem (e.g., via RF or wired communication).

Assuming FIG. 21A illustrates the search at initialization (when pointsA2 and B2 are co-located with points A1 and B1, respectively), point A1is identified at column q and row 113 and point B1 is identified atcolumn x and row 113. In embodiments supporting automatic focus, the Yvalues of points A1 and B1 for both eyes are preferably transmitted totheir respective control system (e.g., via RF or wired communication). Afurther refinement can be made by finding the median sensor of thesensors in a column that yielded the first LLLIIILLL light signature,where this sensor corresponds to the location of iris equator 935. If aLLLIIIGGGLLL pattern or LLLGGGIIILLL arises this refinement cannot beused, since a lid 931 or 932 has occluded iris 928, and the central I ofthe III pattern is not iris equator 935. If iris 928 is found to be notcentered in Y and Z with respect to the detector system atinitialization, the Lnzwear is preferably adjusted to move the detectorsystem into better alignment with the user's eyes.

FIG. 21B is a symbolic plan view of eyes and detector systems 168 in theXY plane. In FIG. 21B, the cornea is indicated at reference numeral 943.In addition, Y1 designates the interocular distance (IOD) from thecenter of one eye to the center of the other eye, YLF and YRF are therespective distances from the nose end of the left and right detectorsystems 168 to the center of each detector system 168, and YNS is thelength along the Y axis of nose slide 221 to its other end. All of thesedistances can be expressed as the closest whole number of millimeters oflength. As discussed above, nose tube 230 is preferably engraved withsmall uniformly spaced lines, which can be conveniently evenly spaced bya whole numbers of millimeters. The visible engraved lines can becounted during initialization and input to the control system, forexample, via MMI 300. Adding the input number of engraved lines todesigned-in values allows the control system to calculate the distanceY1 from the center of the left frame to the center of the right frame,as well distances YL and YR from the midpoint of the interoculardistance Y1 to the centers of the left and right eyes, respectively.

In at least one exemplary embodiment, the control system of the Lnzwearperforms calculations expressed in pseudocode as follows:

-   -   Calculate IOD: Y1=YLF+(number of engraved lines×distance between        engraved lines)+YNS+YRF    -   Calculate: YL=YR=Y1/2    -   Assuming the diameter of the human eye to be 25 mm and the        radius (RE) to be 12.5 mm, calculate the angle XL_OL (origin of        left eye)_A1 (where A1 and A2 again represent the outer points        of the iris equator):        (YL−YA1)/RE=Sin XL_OL_A1        Angle XL_OL_A1=Arc Sin (YL−YA1)/RE    -   When the eye moves to point A2, use YA2 and calculate angle        XL_OL_A2:        (YL−YA2)/RE=Sin XL_OL_A2        Angle XL_OL_A2=Arc Sin (YL−YA2)/RE    -   Calculate the angle A1_OL_A2, the angle the eyes have moved from        straight ahead, along X:        Angle A1_OL_A2=XL_OL_A2−XL_OL_A1    -   Determine the angular direction the eye has moved from line        XL_OL (clockwise in the illustration provided in FIG. 21B):        -   For the left eye calculate the interior angle A as:            Angle L=90 degrees⇄A1_OL_A2    -   Repeat this process for the right eye and calculate the interior        angle B. For this case, assume it is looking toward the left        eye:        Angle R=90 degrees+A1_OR (origin right eye)_A2.

Given angles L and R and the inter-ocular distance Y1, point T, thepoint of intersection of the lines-of-sight (the point user is lookingat), and the distances OLT and ORT from the centers of the left andrights eyes to the object of interest can automatically be determined bythe control system, for example, using the Law of Sines. As depicted inFIG. 21C, using the Law of Sines, the distances from point OL to point Tand OR to point T can be determined as follows:

-   -   Calculate the value of angle C (OL_T_OR):        Angle C=180 degrees−L−R    -   Calculate the distance OLT:        OLT/Sin R=C/Sin C        OLT=(C*Sin R)/Sin C    -   Calculate the distance ORT:        ORT/Sin L=C/Sin C        ORT=(C*Sin L)/Sin C

Based on the calculated distances OLT and ORT to the object of interest,the control system of Lnzwear can alter the focal lengths of thespherical fluid cells. To focus the left cell on T, the earpiece controlconsiders the present position of the piston in terms of shaft encoderpulses from the index, determines how many motor encoder pulses liebetween the index to the new distance, finds the difference, determineswhich direction the motor armature should rotate, and rotates thearmature until the shaft encoder attached to the armature produces theconcomitant number of pulses to cause the piston to reach the newposition. As a result, the left spherical fluid cell is automaticallyfocused on the object of interest in real time. A similar process can beconcurrently performed to focus the right spherical fluid cell.

In at least some embodiments, the Lnzwear control system is capable ofmultiple modes of operation, which are selectable by the user, forexample, using MMI 300 or voice commands. Modes can include but are notlimited to: continuous focusing, fixed focus at a given distance, changedistance by one or more increments, focus near for one eye and focus farfor the other eye, focus according to the length of time of a continuousdepression of a keypad, focus more near and/or more distant thancalculated focus to act as a rehabilitative device for eye muscles,determine the instantaneous diameter of the pupil, announce the distanceto the object, among others. Since the detector system cannot obtainguidance from the eye when the lids are closed, the data is predicatedon light reflected when the eyes are open. Data are preferably stored onthe blinking rate and duration that is occurring, which can serve as aguide to the user that the adjustments are not serving well andnotification that the user should see a medical professional. Thecontrol system allows mono-vision with either eye dominant and alterableto the other eye as needed, and by extension to a larger difference indistance, allowing a person to look at two objects in line, such aslooking through rifle sights with one eye and at a target with theother.

Referring now to FIGS. 22A-22C, there are depicted schematic diagrams ofthe control system of one side (i.e., the left or right side) of threeLnzwear embodiments. It should be appreciated that these embodiments aremerely exemplary and that numerous other embodiments are possible. Insome embodiments, the control system includes components disposed onboth of the frame PCB 160 and the earpiece control foundation 559. Inother embodiments, the control system components can be disposedentirely in the earpieces 2 or on frame PCB 160. As described above,earpieces 2 and the optics sets are connected by hinges 242, 243 thatpermit passage of electrical conductors and fluid passages betweenearpieces 2 and the optics sets. In some embodiments, the controlsystems include electrical controllers, which may be implementedentirely in integrated circuitry or which may alternatively oradditionally execute software and/or firmware to implement controlfunctionality.

In the Lnzwear SCD embodiment shown in FIG. 22A, the control system foreach side includes a earpiece controller 611 on earpiece controlfoundation 559 and a frame controller (e.g., microprocessor) 200 onframe PCB 160. Frame controller 200, which is powered by battery 618 viatraces 616 and 594, is coupled to lamps 190 to selectively cause lamps190 to illuminate the eye and its surrounding tissue with low powerelectromagnetic energy and is further coupled to detector system 593 toreceive signals indicative of the reflected electromagnetic energysensed by SPDAs 170. Frame controller 200 can further be coupled to anoptional RF receiver 592 and optional RF receiver 595, which, ifimplemented, support wireless communication (e.g., 802.x, Bluetooth or900 MHz) with frame controller 200 (and in some embodiments, with bothframe controller 200 and earpiece controller 611).

Earpiece controller 611, which is also powered by battery 618, iscoupled to receive inputs provided via MMI 300. In addition, earpiececontroller 611 is coupled to receive inputs received from limit sensors346 and to provide outputs causing the illumination of lamps 345. Basedon inputs received from limit sensors 346, motor shaft encoder 312 andMMI 300, earpiece controller 611 provides outputs that control motor310. As shown, earpiece controller 611 may be coupled to an optional RFreceiver 612 and to an optional RC transmitter 634, which, ifimplemented, support wireless communication (e.g., 802.x, Bluetooth or900 MHz) with earpiece controllers 611 (and in some embodiments, withboth frame controllers 200 and earpiece controllers 611). Earpiececontroller 611 may optionally be coupled to a microphone 613 and to aspeaker 635 to support receipt of audio inputs and provision of audiooutputs by earpiece controller 611. As further shown in FIG. 22A,earpiece controller 611 may optionally be equipped with one or moreforward looking cameras 617, which can be utilized to supplement therange detection performed by detector system 593 if and when the rangeexceeds the capability of detector system 593.

Turning now to FIG. 22B, there is illustrated a schematic diagram of anexemplary Lnzwear spherical-cylindrical-verbal (SCV2) embodiment,referred to above as Embodiment Q. In this embodiment, reservoir 460 ofthe SCD embodiment shown in FIG. 22A is replaced by a manually drivenpump 415 having a piston 416. This arrangement allows cylindrical cell599 to be set independently from spherical cell 598. As shown, in thisembodiment, the earpiece control system may include an RF receiver 612,RF transmitter 634, microphone 613, speaker 635, limit sensors 346,lamps 345, motor 310 and shaft encoder 312 as previously described. Inthis embodiment, no MMI 300 is required to be provided on the earpiece 2(although it can optionally be included). Control can instead beperformed by the user giving verbal commands, which are received bymicrophone 613 and recognized by earpiece controller 611 The commandvocabulary can be very simple and limited. One advantage of this controlmodality is its ability to easily control spherical correction out tothe limits of the spherical cell 598. In this embodiment, the astigmaticcorrection provided by cylindrical cell 599 is determined by a manualpump 415 having a piston 416 driven by a manually operated thumbwheel(rather than a motor). As a result, only the upper valve of valve body410 need be implemented or utilized.

FIG. 22C illustrates a schematic diagram of an even more simplifiedLnzwear spherical-cylindrical-manual (SCM2) embodiment, referred toabove as Embodiment R. In this embodiment, no electronics or motors areincluded. Instead, both piston 380 of pump 410 and piston 416 of pump415 are manually driven (e.g., by respective thumb wheels disposed onearpiece 2). In this embodiment, only the upper valve 450U is required,and spherical cell 598 and cylindrical cell 599 can be controlledutilizing these two pumps and one valve. One important aspect of thisembodiment is the ability to reach heretofore unreachable populationsaround the world with a counter to astigmatism and the ability to focusat a wide range of distances. While this embodiment does not operate ina dynamic manner, its manually adjustable focus is sufficient to enablelarge segments of the world's population that are precluded from workingdue to vision impairment to resume working.

FIGS. 23A-23B are high level logical flowcharts of the operation of anexemplary Lnzwear SCD embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 23A beginsat block 2200 and then proceeds to block 2202, which illustrates that,prior to using Lnzwear, its hydraulic system should be filled with fluid570 and purged of gases as previously described with reference to FIGS.18A-18C. Purging of gases and alignment of threaded piston rod 370 withlimit sensors 346 allows piston 380 to establish a monotonicrelationship with the focal distance of the spherical fluid cell. Asindicated at blocks 2204-2206, earpiece controller 611 may optionallypresent a prompt for the user to visually check whether gas bubbles areobserved through transparent valve body 420 and provide an input (e.g.,via MMI 300) indicating whether gas bubbles have been successfullypurged.

In response to an input indicating gas bubbles have been purged from thehydraulic system, the earpiece controller 611 commands the user (e.g.,via one or more speakers 635) to wear the Lnzwear eyewear (block 2308).As shown at blocks 2312-2316, the user then preferably customizes fit ofthe Lnzwear to fit his or her face. In some embodiments, like thatshown, the adjustment of the Lnzwear can optionally be guided by promptspresented by earpiece controller 611 via speakers 635. As depicted atblock 2312, the user can adjust the placement of the optics to match thelocations of the user's eyes, for example, by adjusting nose pads 224,nose slide 221, and/or the relationship between frames 140 and nose tube230. Block 2314 additionally illustrates that the fit of Lnzwear can becustomized by adjusting the tilt of frames 140 by rotating earpieces 2with respect to frames 140 about the Y axis so frames 140 lie roughlyparallel to the cheeks and forehead and earpieces 2 lie along the templebut above the ears. Earpieces 2 can also be rotated about the X axis andsecured so they remain parallel to the temple. As further illustrated atblock 2316, the user secures Lnzwear to the head so that the nose restis held on the slope of the nose by rotating battery boxes 290 againstthe mastoid area of the skull and detenting them in place. Once the fitof Lnzwear is appropriately customized, the user provides an input(e.g., via MMI 300) indicating that Lnzwear is ready for initialization.

The initialization process is depicted at blocks 2320-2324. At block2320, earpiece controller 611 prompts the user to enter, and the userenters (e.g., via MMI 300), the dimension of nose tube 230 as expressed,for example, in the number of engraved lines visible on nose tube 230following any adjustment made at block 2312. As explained above, thenumber of engraved lines observed on nose tube 230 plus the manufacturedwidths in Y of frame edge-to-center-of-frame establishes theinter-ocular distance Y1. With the user wearing Lnzwear and staringstraight ahead (i.e., along the X axis), frame controllers 200 measureand record the locations of points A1 to B1 and the length of irisequator 928 of each eye (block 2322). Knowing the length of iris equator928 allows the determination in Y of any other position of the iris tobe calculated. If needed, the user may also establish a counter toastigmatism in either or both eyes, as described above (block 2323). Atthe conclusion of the initialization process, the earpiece controller611 may optionally present an audio prompt indicating the Lnzwear isready for use (block 2324).

Thereafter, during the regular continuous focus mode of operation ofLnzwear, the control systems (e.g., frame controllers 200 and/orearpiece controllers 611) cooperate to automatically and continuouslyfocus the spherical optics of the Lnzwear in real time on objectsobserved by the user (block 2326). As indicated at block 2328 and 2330,this continuous focus mode of operation continues until the user changesthe mode of operation (e.g., using a command input via microphone 613 orMMI 300) or the Lnzwear is powered off.

Referring now to FIG. 23B, the continuous focus mode of operation shownin block 2326 of FIG. 23A is depicted in greater detail. The process ofFIG. 23B begins at block 2340 and then proceeds to block 2342, whichillustrates frame controllers 200 determining the Y coordinates ofpoints A2, B2 for each eye while the user is observing an object ofinterest (block 2342). At blocks 2344-2346, frame controllers 200determine the angles L and R at which the eyes are directed (i.e., thelines-of-sight) and applies the Law of Sines to determine the distanceto the object. Based on this distance, which can be reported by framecontrollers 200 to the associated earpiece controllers 611, earpiececontrollers 611 then determine the required direction and distance eachpiston 380 is to be moved to change focus from the present focaldistance to the appropriate focal distance to the object of interest(block 2348). Earpiece controller 611 then control motors 310 to moveeach piston and appropriate distance and direction to achieve focus onthe object of interest (block 2350). The process thereafter ends atblock 2352 until an new object of interest is established.

Referring now to FIGS. 24-25, isometric and section views of analternative embodiment of an earpiece for use in Lnzwear are depicted.In contrast to previously described embodiments in which the earpiecesare unitary housings for control and drive components, in the depictedembodiment each earpiece is formed of a series of individual components(including control and/or drive components) that are assembled (e.g.,via snap fit or sonic welding) to form the earpieces. For example, theseearpieces can be constructed from appropriate components for use in SCD,SCV or SCM (Spherical-Cylindrical-Manual) embodiments. As describedabove, the SCV embodiment is capable of independently changing via voicecommands (or optionally, a MMI 300): 1) focal distance by electric motordrive and hydraulic pressure, 2) astigmatic power by manual drive andhydraulic pressure, and 3) astigmatic angle by manual rotation of thecylindrical housing. The SCM embodiment is similar, but substitutes asecond manually driven pump in place of the electric motor driven pumpemployed in the SCV embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an isometric view illustrating the external surfaces of thefunctional components of an earpiece 2000 and the order in which theyare assembled. In a preferred embodiment, the external surfaces areintegrally attached to (i.e., unitary with) the internal functionalcomponents. In this example, the components include in order fromanterior to posterior: earpiece forward 2010, pump body including acylindrical cell pump 2020, valve 2030, and spherical cell pump 2040,bulkheads 2050 and 2060, earpiece control 2070, curved section 2080,earpiece transition 2090, battery box hinge 2100, battery box 2110, andbattery box cap 2120. These components preferably include correspondingsurfaces which are interlocked at assembly.

FIG. 25 is a detailed section view depicting a portion of the componentsof earpiece 2000. As shown, the pump body includes two pumps: aspherical cell pump and a manually-driven cylindrical cell pump. In thedepicted SCV embodiment, the spherical cell pump is driven by anelectric motor; in an alternative SCM embodiment, both the sphericalcell pump and cylindrical cell pump are manually controlled.

In the depicted embodiment, cylindrical cell pump 2020 includes acylinder 2019 housing a piston 2024 sealed against the interior wall ofcylinder by piston seal 2025. Piston 2024 has an attached screw 2021,which in turn has a nut 2022 that engages a manual thumbwheel (notshown) coupled thereto. As nut 2022 is rotated by the manual thumbwheel,screw 2021, which is supported by thrust bushings 2011 and 2023, travelsbackward and forward within earpiece forward 2010 to supply fluid 570from cylinder 2019 to the cylindrical fluid cell 599 or to withdrawfluid 570 from cylindrical fluid cell 599 via valve 2030.

FIG. 25 further illustrates spherical cell pump 2040. In the depictedembodiment, spherical cell pump 2040 has an associated electric motor2071. Motor 2071 has a motor shaft on which a pinion 2062 is mounted.Pinion 2062 mates with gear nut 2061, which is rotatable in bearings2051 mounted in bulkhead 2050 and retained there by bearing keeper 2052.Gear nut 2061 has a threaded central bore that engages threaded pistonscrew 2103. With this arrangement, a piston 2101, which is attached topiston screw 2103 and sealed against the interior of cylinder 2100 by aseal 2102, can be driven forward and backward in the interior ofcylinder 2100. The location of piston 2101 can be determined from amotor encoder, and range of motion of piston 2101 can be limitedutilizing limit sensors as previously described.

FIG. 26 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of valve 2030 ofearpiece 2000. Valve includes a valve stem 2031 sealed against aninterior wall of earpiece 2000 by a valve seal 2034. Valve stem 2031 hasa central bore sealed by a ball 2032 that is biased to a closed positionby a valve spring 2033.

FIG. 27 is an isometric view of an exemplary hinge assembly 3000suitable for coupling the earpieces and optics in various Lnzwearembodiments. Hinge assembly 3000 includes an interior passage thatpermits fluid flow (and in some embodiments, electrical signalcommunication), while still allowing the earpieces to be folded forstorage. In this example, hinge assembly 3000 includes a rotating hinge3001, a stationary hinge 3002, and a central retainer 3003 that couplesrotating hinge 3001 and stationary hinge 3002.

The present application discloses a number of optical assemblies andimprovements thereto. The optical assemblies can include fluid opticalcells that counter refractive and/or astigmatic errors. In someembodiments, the optical assemblies can also include one or more otherprescription or bias lenses in combination with one or more fluid cells.In one set of eyewear embodiments referred to herein as Lnzwear, fluidoptical cells can be mounted on a frame, and the spherical and/orcylindrical power of the fluid optical cells can be varied in real time.In at least some embodiments, the spherical and/or cylindrical power ofthe optics set of each eye can be varied independently. In variousembodiments, the spherical and/or cylindrical power can be controlledautomatically by a controller (e.g., within the eyewear) and/or manuallyby the user. In various embodiments, the user can direct operation ofthe controller via spoken commands, manually keyed inputs, and/or eyemovement. In one embodiment, Lnzwear automatically maintains continuousfocus for each eye on an object of interest in real time by detecting aline-of-sight to the object of interest, determining a distance to theobject of interest, and adjusting the optics set for each eyeaccordingly. The optical assemblies disclosed herein can additionallyprovide in various embodiments: comfort through the full height andwidth of the field of view without lines or unproductive zones, moreprecise offset of refractive errors due to the analog nature of thefluid cells, digital control, a built-in phoropter, variable focus overa greater dynamic range, the ability of a user to maintain focus onmoving objects and for a greater amount of time. The optical assembliesdisclosed herein can be mass produced, thus obviating the processes ofprofessional fitting by medical personnel and requiring less inventoryin the supply chain at all locations and levels of supply. The opticalassemblies disclosed herein can address presbyopia, astigmatism,hyperopia, myopia, and mono-vision, either eye dominant, withoutre-manufacturing. The optical assemblies disclosed herein are useful ineye muscle rehabilitation and other special circumstances where it wouldbe desirable to offer different optical performance to the left andright eyes.

In the present application, the terms “spherical” and “cylindrical” havebeen used in their ophthalmic senses to describe known types of lenses.It should be appreciated that these terms as used in this sense do notrequire geometrically perfect spherical or cylindrical surfaces. Itshould also be emphasized that although various embodiments have beendescribed that employ fluid cells lenses in eyewear, that the appendedclaims, unless specifically limited to eyewear embodiments, areapplicable to wide variety of optical assemblies as noted herein.

While various embodiments have been particularly shown and described, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes inform and detail may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims and these alternate implementations allfall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, although someaspects have been described with respect to a controller executingprogram code that directs the functions of the present invention, itshould be understood that present invention may alternatively beimplemented as a program product including a storage device storingprogram code that can be processed by a controller to perform thedescribed functions. The storage device can include volatile ornon-volatile memory, an optical or magnetic disk, or the like. However,as employed herein, a “storage device” is specifically defined toinclude only statutory articles of manufacture and to exclude signalmedia per se, transitory propagating signals per se, and energy per se.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical assembly, comprising: an optical cellincluding: a base optic including a wall defining a periphery of theoptical cell; a flexible plate having a peripheral edge disposed withinand adjacent the wall; a ring coupled to the base optic, the ringincluding a shoulder projecting toward the base optic; and a singlecircumferential wall plate seal in contact with the wall, the flexibleplate, and the shoulder of the ring, wherein the circumferential wallplate seal is retained in contact with the wall by the shoulder suchthat the circumferential wall plate seal provides a fluid-tight seal forthe optical cell along that seals the peripheral edge of the flexibleplate; and wherein the base optic includes a fluid passageway formedtherein communicating with a volume between the flexible plate and thebase optic, such that an optical focal length of the optical cell can bechanged by introducing fluid into the volume under sufficient hydraulicpressure to deform the flexible plate to shape the fluid into asubstantially spherical lens.
 2. The optical assembly of claim 1,wherein the base optic has a concave surface adjacent the flexibleplate.
 3. The optical assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a lensdisposed within the ring, wherein the lens disposed within the ringprovides at least one of a set including spherical correction andcylindrical correction.
 4. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein thebase optic includes a torus that contacts the peripheral edge of theflexible plate.
 5. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the opticalcell produces an ophthalmic image free from any aberration detectable byunaided human vision.
 6. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein theoptical cell is a null optic when the flexible plate is not deformed byhydraulic pressure.
 7. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein thecircumferential wall plate seal is constrained such that the opticalcell has a monotonic relationship between fluid volume within the volumeand deflection of the flexible plate.
 8. The optical assembly of claim1, wherein: the optical cell comprises a first optical cell; and theoptical assembly comprises eyewear and further includes: a secondoptical cell; and a frame coupled to the first and second optical cells,wherein the frame is configured to hold the first and second opticalcells in side-by-side relation.
 9. The optical assembly of claim 8,wherein the frame is reconfigurable such that a spacing of the first andsecond optical cells can be user selected.
 10. The optical assembly ofclaim 1, wherein: the optical cell comprises a first optical cell, theflexible plate is a flexible first plate, the circumferential wall plateseal is a first circumferential wall plate seal, the volume is firstvolume, and the wall is a first wall; and the apparatus furthercomprises a second optical cell including: a housing having a secondwall, a flexible second plate having an peripheral edge disposed withinand adjacent the second wall; a second circumferential wall plate sealthat seals the peripheral edge of the flexible second plate against thesecond wall; and a set of pivots disposed at the peripheral edge of theflexible second plate that restrains a central portion of the flexiblesecond plate and that allows non-central peripheral portions of theflexible second plate to deflect about the set of pivots; wherein thehousing includes a fluid passageway formed therein communicating with asecond volume between the flexible second plate and the housing,wherein, by introducing fluid into the second volume under sufficienthydraulic pressure, the flexible second plate is deformed about the setof pivots to shape the fluid within the second volume into asubstantially cylindrical lens.
 11. The optical assembly of claim 10,and further comprising a frame in which the housing is rotatablymounted.
 12. The optical assembly of claim 11, and further comprising: acircumferential fluid channel formed between the housing and the frame;and a pair of housing seals that seal the circumferential fluid channel.13. The optical assembly of claim 10, wherein the set of pivots includean internal pivot and an external pivot on opposing surfaces of theflexible second plate.
 14. The optical assembly of claim 1, and furthercomprising a drive system that selectively applies hydraulic pressure tothe optical cell.
 15. The optical assembly of claim 14, wherein: theoptical assembly comprises eyewear; and the optical assembly furtherincludes at least one earpiece housing the drive system.
 16. The opticalassembly of claim 14, and further comprising: a control system thatdetects a line-of-sight of an eye of a human user of the opticalassembly through the optical cell, determines a distance to an observedobject along the line-of-sight, and controls the drive system to modifyhydraulic pressure applied to the optical cell such that the opticalcell is focused on the observed object.
 17. The optical assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the control system includes a detector systemincluding a plurality of sensors that sense electromagnetic energyreflected from a user's eye.
 18. The optical assembly of claim 17,wherein the detector system further includes an energy source thatirradiates the eye with electromagnetic energy.
 19. An optical assembly,comprising: an optical cell including: a housing having a wall, aflexible plate having an peripheral edge disposed within and adjacentthe wall; a circumferential seal that seals the peripheral edge of theflexible plate against the wall; and a set of pivots disposed at theperipheral edge of the flexible plate that restrains a central portionof the flexible plate and that allows non-central peripheral portions ofthe flexible second plate to deflect about the set of pivots; whereinthe housing includes a fluid passageway formed therein communicatingwith a volume between the flexible plate and the housing, wherein, byintroducing fluid into the volume under sufficient hydraulic pressure,the flexible plate is deformed about the set of pivots to shape thefluid within the volume into a substantially cylindrical lens.
 20. Amethod of using an optical assembly, comprising: providing an opticalcell including: a base optic including a wall defining a periphery ofthe optical cell; a flexible plate having a peripheral edge disposedwithin and adjacent the wall; a ring coupled to the base optic, the ringincluding a shoulder projecting toward the base optic; and a singlecircumferential wall plate seal in contact with the wall, the flexibleplate, and the shoulder of the ring, wherein the circumferential wallplate seal is retained in contact with the wall by the shoulder suchthat the circumferential wall plate seal provides a fluid-tight seal forthe optical cell along the peripheral edge of the flexible plate;wherein the base optic includes a fluid passageway formed thereincommunicating with a volume between the flexible plate and the baseoptic; placing fluid in the volume under sufficient hydraulic pressureto deform the flexible plate to shape the fluid into a substantiallyspherical lens, such that an optical focal length of the optical cell ischanged.